Headline: Māori have to wait 27 years for brighter future
Steven Joyce is neglecting Māori economic development, and has no idea when Māori will be able to reach the equal median income, says Labour’s Regional Economic Development spokesperson Shane Jones.
“Steven Joyce is comfortable with cronies but incredibly uncomfortable with Te Ao Māori. He’s ignorant of the serious problems Māori face and resorts to corporate jargon.
“His own MoBIE department target is that Māori will have to wait until 2040 to reach the equal median income. And he calls that aspirational?
“Steven Joyce runs his portfolios for casino owners and merchant bankers. Based on his discomfort in the House today he hates dealing with Māori issues.
“Get used to it and start governing for the whole country.
“This man is in charge of economic development – he should understand the problems Māori face and get to work on them.
“Getting Māori into jobs and skills is critical. If he doesn’t even know the figures how can he fix the problem?
“His Regional Economic Activity report says that North Island unemployment is high because more Māori and Pacific Islanders live there. He should stop blaming Māori for the problems and get stuck in and help.
“If he’s so unaware of Māori issues I’ll give him some facts. In Ikaroa-Rāwhiti the employment rate is just 54 per cent.
“These are serious issues. He should stop his commercial cronyism and own up about his ignorance of the economic problems Māori face,” says Shane Jones.
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